Crib Chatter

I’ve been getting a few inquiries about this new 9-unit building at 118 N. Halsted in the West Loop.

Anyone who drives down Halsted can’t miss the building, as it’s the only new construction building between the restaurants of Randolph Street and the Dominick’s on Washington.

There are several addresses associated with the building including 114 N. Halsted, 118 N. Halsted and 120 N. Halsted.

The listing says the unit has ebony hardwood flooring, viking and bosch appliances in the kitchen and imported porcelain and mosaic tile from Italy in the bathrooms.

The listing also says the building has “skyline views from every unit.”

You can read more about the building on YoChicago which wrote an update on it in December 2008.

Just by walking or driving by, it is clear there are no commercial tenants in the bottom floor commercial spaces.

How hard is it to sell these types of units in this market? The listing says that a special 5% down loan is available.

It appears that one unit out of nine has sold:

114 N. Halsted #4 for $630,000 in June 2009.

Renata Williamson at @Properties has the listings. See more pictures here.

118 N. Halsted Unit #4: 4 bedrooms, 3 baths,  1900 square feet, 1 car garage included

• Originally listed in March 2009 for $629,900
• Currently still listed at $629,900
• Assessments of $140 a month
• Taxes are “new”

This 2-bedroom house at 2700 N. Wilton in Lincoln Park has been completely renovated and is move-in ready.

It’s listed under $600,000, which is cheaper than many Lincoln Park townhouses.

The house, built in 1892, has central air, a two car garage and maple hardwood floors throughout.

One of the bathrooms has skylights over the expansive tub.

Yes, the El line runs in back of the property.

Is this a good townhouse alternative?

Barry Kadish at Marc Realty has the listing. See more pictures here.

Watch the YouTube video here.

2700 N. Wilton: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed, 2 car garage

• Sold in December 1992 for $7,339
• Sold in December 1994 for $12,966
• Sold in September 1996 for $170,000
• Lis pendens filed in January 2007
• Bank owned in October 2007
• Sold in February 2008 for $540,000 (the amount is from Redfin, but other public records do not list the amount only the sales date)
• Originally listed in August 2009 for $649,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $579,000
• Taxes of $8627
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 20×34
• Bedroom #2: 9×13
• Living room: 17×21

Many of you wanted to discuss what impact the Olympics would have on housing in the Washington Park neighborhood as well as the South Side in general, where the proposed Olympic Village would have been located.

Now that Chicago will not be getting the Games in 2016, the discussion is still warranted.

We’ve chattered about Washington Park housing before.

Remember this 10-bedroom brownstone mansion at 5919 S. Calumet?

We last chattered about it in January 2009.

It is now being sold “as-is” and has been reduced $90,500. Remember, it had been divided into 4 units over the years.

See our prior chatter and interior pictures here.

Arzak Mobarak at Classic Realty Group, Inc. now has the listing.

The listing calls it a “great opportunity at this price for the savvy investor.”

See one picture and the current listing here.

5919 S. Calumet: 10 bedrooms, 5 baths, no square footage listed, 4 car parking

• Sold in February 1989 for $30,000
• Was listed in January 2009 for $189,500
• Cancelled
• Re-listed in August 2009 for $99,000
• Currently listed for $99,000
• Taxes of $4916
• No central air
• 3 fireplaces

What about the rest of the South Loop- which was banking on an influx of investor interest and building buzz about the Games to help clear out the condo inventory that continues to grow by the month?

This 6-bedroom 2-flat at 1529 W. Roscoe in Southport came on the market in August, just 14 months after it was previously purchased.

It is an 1887 Victorian and each unit has 3 bedrooms, 1 bath. There’s a 2 car garage.

The first floor unit has refinished hard wood floors and stainless steel appliances. The listing says you could duplex down into the basement.

There is no central air, but there are 2 washer/dryers in the basement.

The first floor unit appears to be rented for $1400 a month. The listing says “rents could be higher.”

Does this make sense for an investor?

Paul Thompson at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here.

1529 W. Roscoe: 6 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 car garage

• Sold in June 2008 for $550,000
• Originally listed in August 2009 for $595,900
• Reduced numerous times
• Currently listed for $519,000
• Taxes of $8986

Multiple offers haven’t gone away, there are just fewer of them.

This 4-bedroom brick house at 1322 N. Oakley in Wicker Park went under contract within 6 days with multiple offers.

The house, built in 1893, appears to have all the bells and whistles including a two car garage and central air.

It also has not only a backyard but a huge rooftop deck, so you can enjoy two outdoor spaces.

The kitchen has the usual granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances and maple cabinets. Three of the bedrooms are on the second level.

The home is also selling over its 2005 purchase price.

Mario Greco at Prudential Rubloff has the listing. See more pictures and a virtual tour here.

See the property website here.

1322 N. Oakley: 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 2 car garage, no square footage listed

• Sold in May 1994 for $105,000
• Sold in March 1996 for $234,500
• Sold in May 2000 for $100,000 (?)
• Sold in October 2001 for $460,000
• Sold in July 2005 for $650,000
• Originally listed in September 2009 for $699,000
• Increased
• Currently listed for $719,000
• Under contract in 6 days
• Taxes of $7057
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 19×12
• Bedroom #2: 16×10
• Bedroom #3: 11×10
• Bedroom #4: 15×11 (lower level)

This custom built 5-bedroom home at 2015 W. Fletcher in Roscoe Village is being sold “as-is.”

It’s also been on and off the market since 2006 and, during that time, has been reduced by over $460,000.

The house has a two-story living room, skylights, and a kitchen with maple cabinets and stainless steel appliances.  It also has 4 fireplaces to take away the chill of those cold Chicago winters.

The house has central air and a 2.5 car garage.

Is this a steal at this price?

David Piche at Re/Max Signature has the listing. See the pictures here.

2015 W. Fletcher: 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 4000 square feet, 2.5 car garage

• Sold in February 1999 for $135,000
• Originally listed in May 2006 for $1.2 million
• Cancelled
• Re-listed in September 2007 for $1.175 million
• Cancelled
• Re-listed in June 2008 for $1,099,900
• Cancelled
• Re-listed in March 2009 for $1,049,900
• Cancelled
• Re-listed in June 2009 for $772,900
• Under contract
• Re-listed at $756,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $737,900
• Taxes of $12,735
• Central Air 
• Sold “as-is”
• Must be pre-qualified by B of A

The listing for this 1892 Victorian at 5413 S. Dorchester in Hyde Park says it is owned by a preservation architect.

It sounds like the house has been nearly completely renovated in the last decade including new copper plumbing, a new furnace and central air.

The woodwork on the first floor was restored and a second bath added to the second  floor.

New cedar siding and trim was also apparently installed on the back addition to the house. The property was recently repainted.

It also has two vintage fireplaces, including one in the master bedroom.

The only thing that seems to be missing is parking.

Is that a deal breaker at this price?

John Wyman at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See the pictures and a virtual tour here.

5413 S. Dorchester: 5 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 half baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in June 1988 for $152,000
• Sold in June 1991 for $220,000
• Sold in May 2000 for $344,000
• Currently listed for $599,900
• Taxes of $7515
• Central Air
• No parking

This newer 2-bedroom condo at 1601 S. State in the South Loop is bank owned.

It has also been reduced by $20,100 from its original list price in July.

It has hard wood floors, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances in the kitchen. It also has in-unit laundry and central air.

The only thing it is missing is parking. There is no space allocated to this unit.

The listing also says the unit faces the El tracks.

There have been several other bank-owned sales in the building recently.

Unit #5H, in the same tier 2/2 but it had a parking space, recently closed in early September for $267,500.

Is this an attractive price for the square footage in this location?

Colin Hebson and George Furla at Koenig & Strey have the listing. See more pictures here.

Unit #3H: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1250 square feet

• Sold in September 2005 but I couldn’t find a sales price
• Lis pendens foreclosure in February 2009
• Listed in July 2009 for $259,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $239,000
• Assessments of $315 a month
• Taxes of $4115
• No parking with the unit
• In-unit washer/dryer
• Central Air

This 1958 Cape Cod at 1249 W. Lill in Lincoln Park has been on the the market since early August.

It has recently been reduced and is now listed $130,000 under the listing price.

The listing calls it an “incredible value” for someone to rehab or build new. It also has a separate listing just for the land.

The house is on a corner lot which is approximately 40×70.

Is this a deal for the lot?

Yehuda Cohen at Dream Town Realty has the listing. See the pictures here.

1249 W. Lill: 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, 1118 square feet, no garage

• I couldn’t find an original sales price (sometime before the 1980s)
• Originally listed in August 2009 for $629,000
• Reduced several times
• Currently listed at $499,000
• Taxes of $1,207
• Bedroom #1: 10×10
• Bedroom #2: 10×10
• Bedroom #3: 10×11

Someone commented that we haven’t chattered much about The Regatta, at 420 E. Waterside, in Lakeshore East, so I will wrap up the recent chatters we’ve been having about Lakeshore East with this building (until Aqua flips pick up steam,  that is.)

Unit #2701, a 1546-square foot 2 bedroom, is the cheapest 2-bedroom for sale in the building (another 2/2 priced less is under contract.)

It has a split floor plan and views of the lake and Navy Pier.

The listing also says it has hardwood floors, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances in the kitchen.

The unit is now listed $67,500 under its 2007 purchase price. The listing says “motivated seller says sell!”

Is this unit a deal at this price?

Robin Depeder at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #2701: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1546 square feet

• Sold in January 2007 for $616,500 (looks like parking was included)
• Listed in July 2009 for $584,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $549,000 (parking included)
• Assessments of $553 a month (includes cable, pool, heat, AC)
• Taxes of $4457
• Bedroom #1: 14×11
• Bedroom #2: 12×11